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CHARTER AND BY-LAWS 



OF THE 



RHODE ISLAND 



HISTORICAL SOCIETY 



Revised April 14, 1914 




'■■'*s^Ea£P^' 



PROVIDENCE 
1914 



COMS'ANV 
• PROVIDENCE, K. 



T?^%lo 



CHARTER. 

[Passed at the Junb Session, 1822.] 



AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE RHODE ISLAND 
HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



Whereas, Jeremiah Lippitt, William Aplin, Charles 
Norris Tibbetts, Walter R. Danforth, William R. 
Staples, Richard W. Greene, John Brown Francis, 
William G. Goddard, Charles F. Tillinghast, Richard 
J. Arnold, Charles Jackson, and William E. Richmond, 
have petitioned this General Assembly to incorporate 
them into a society, by the name of the Rhode Island 
Historical Society: 

Section i. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, 
and by the authority thereof it is enacted. That the 
aforesaid persons, together with such others as they 
shall hereafter associate with them, and their succes- 
sors, are hereby constituted, ordained and created, a 
body corporate and politic, by the name of Tlie Rhode 
Island Historical Society, for the purpose of procuring 
and preserving whatever relates to the topography^ 
antiquities, and natural, civil and ecclesiastical Jiistory 
of this State; and by the name aforesaid shall have 
perpetual succession; and by the same name are 
hereby made able and capable in law, as a body cor- 
porate, to have, hold and enjoy goods, chattels, lands 



Rhode Island Historical Society 



and tenements, to the value of five thousand dollars, 
exclusive of their library, cabinet and historical col- 
lections and antiquities, and the same at all times to 
dispose of; to have a common seal, and the same at 
pleasure to change or destroy ; to sue and be sued, to 
plead and to be impleaded, to answer and be answered 
unto, to defend and be defended against, in all courts 
of justice and before all proper judges; and to do, act 
and transact all matters and things whatsoever, proper 
for bodies corporate to do, act and transact; and to 
establish and enact such a constitution and such by-laws 
as shall be deemed necessary and expedient, provided 
that they be not repugnant to the laws of this State, or 
of the United States; and to annex to the breach of 
those laws such fines as they may deem fit. 

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the said 
corporation be further authorized and empowered to 
elect and qualify such officers as may by them be 
deemed necessary ; to be chosen at such time, and to 
hold their offices for such period, as the constitution of 
said corporation shall prescribe ; and to appoint and 
hold such meetings as shall be thought proper. 

Sec. 3. Aiid be it further enacted, That said Society 
shall establish two cabinets for the deposit and safe- 
keeping of all the ancient documents and records illus- 
trating the history and antiquities of this State ; one 
of said cabinets in the town of Newport, for the safe- 
keeping of the records of the early history of the 
southern section of the State, and the other in the 
town of Providence, for the safe-keeping of the his- 



Charter 5 

torical records of the northern section thereof; and 
that the anniversary of said Society shall be holden in 
said Providence. 

Sec. 4. And be it further enacted. That Jeremiah 
Lippitt be authorized and empowered to call the first 
meeting of the corporation, within three months from 
the granting of this charter, giving public notice of 
the same. 



AMENDMENT. 

[Passed March 7, 1878.] 

AN ACT IN AMENDMENT OF AN ACT ENTITLED "aN ACT TO 
INCORPORATE THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCI- 
ETY," PASSED AT THE JUNE SESSION, 1822. 

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follozvs : 

Section i. The said Rhode Island Historical 
Society shall, from and after the passage of this act, 
have and establish but one cabinet for the deposit and 
safe-keeping of its collections, and said cabinet shall be 
located in the city of Providence. 



Rhode Island Hist07'ical Society 



AMENDMENT. 

[Passed March 6, 1890.] 

AN ACT IN AMENDMENT OF AN ACT ENTITLED "aN ACT TO 
INCORPORATE THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCI- 
ETY," PASSED AT THE JUNE SESSION, 1 822, AND OF 
THE SEVERAL ACTS IN AMENDMENT THEREOF AND IN 
ADDITION THERETO. 

// is enacted by the Ge^ieral Assembly as follows: 

Section i. The Rhode Island Historical Society is 
hereby authorized to take, hold, transmit and convey 
real and personal estate to an amount not exceeding 
one hundred thousand dollars, in addition to its library, 
cabinet, and historical collections and antiquities. 

Sec 2. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent here- 
with are hereby repealed, and this act shall take effect 
from and after its passage. 



Constitution and By-Laws 



CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS, 



Membership. 

1. The Rhode Island Historical Society shall be composed 
of active, corresponding, honorary and life members. 

2. All nominations or applications for membership shall be 
signed by a member of the Society and sent to the Secretary, 
who shall refer them to the Membership Committtee, which 
shall act on all such names, either admitting or refusing to 
admit to membership each person so nominated, and shall 
then report to the Executive Committee the names of such 
persons as it has admitted. The name of any person refused 
admission by the Membership Committee may, upon the 
motion of any member of the Society, be brought before a 
regular meeting of the Society for action, and a majority vote 
shall determine whether the action of the Membership Com- 
mittee shall be approved or reversed. 

3. Any active member may by the payment of fifty dollars 
at one time to the Society become a Life Member, and shall 
thereafter be exempt from all assessments or annual taxes. 
A Life Member shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges 
of Active Membership. 

4. Active and Life Members only shall be eligible to hold 
office and to vote at the meetings of the Society. 

5. Any person not a resident of the State of Rhode Island 
who is interested in the objects of the Society or desirous of 
promoting its work may be proposed by the Membership Com- 
mittee as a Corresponding Member. A Corresponding Mem- 
ber upon becoming a resident of the State of Rhode Island 
shall cease to be a Corresponding Member, but upon his re- 
quest may be transferred to the active list and shall then be 
liable for all taxes or assessments levied after the beginning 
of the next calendar year. 



Rhode Island Historical Society 



6. Any person who shall have attained eminence in history, 
literature, science or the arts may be proposed by the Mem- 
bership Committee for Honorary Membership. 

7. Names proposed for Corresponding or Honorary Mem- 
bership shall first be reported by the Membership Committee 
to the Executive Committee, and shall not be submitted to the 
Society without the unanimous recommendation of the latter 

Committee. 

Fees and Taxes. 

8. A person elected to Active Membership shall be ad- 
mitted to the Society upon the payment of an admission fee 
of five dollars, which shall include the tax for the remainder 
of the current calendar year. 

9. Active members shall pay an annual tax of three dollars, 
which shall become due and payable at and after the annual 
meeting in each and every year. 

10. Any member who neglects to pay the annual tax for 
the period of two years may, after a demand made by the 
Treasurer in writing, be dropped by the Executive Committee 
from the Membership roll of the Society. 

Officers. 

11. The officers of the Society shall be a President, two 
Vice-Presidents, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. These officers 
shall be chosen at the annual meeting in January of each year 
to serve until the next annual meeting and until others are 
chosen in their places. 

12. The President shall preside at all meetings of the 
Society and of the Executive Committee at which he is 
present, and in case of a tie vote he shall have a casting vote. 
He shall be ex officio a member of each of the standing 
committees, and shall perform such duties as usually appertain 
to the office of President. 

In the absence of the President and the Vice-Presidents a 
member selected by vote of the members present shall preside. 

13. The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings 
of the Society and of the Executive Committee. He shall 



Constitution and By-Laws 



notify the members of all meetings and shall inform the officers 
and the members of committees upon their election or appoint- 
ment and shall conduct such official correspondence as usually 
appertains to the office of Secretary. 

14. The Treasurer, subject to the supervision of the Finance 
Committee, shall have the custody of the funds of the Society, 
shall collect all moneys due to the Society, shall pay all 
authorized bills against the Society when properly audited, 
and shall keep the Cabinet and its contents insured. He shall 
also, under the advice and direction of the Finance Com- 
mittee, invest the funds of the Society and change the invest- 
ments whenever the interests of the Society require. At the 
annual meeting he shall present a statement of his accounts. 
He shall give such bond as the Finance Committee may 
deem adequate. 

Librarian. 

15. There shall be a Librarian and Cabinet-Keeper, who 
shall be appointed and his salary fixed by the Executive Com- 
mittee, subject to comfirmation by the Society. He shall 
have charge under the direction of the Library Committee of 
the contents of the Cabinet or building of the Society. He 
shall act as Secretary to each of the Standing Committees, 
and, when requested, to any Special Committee. 

Executive Committee. 

16. There shall be an Executive Committee which shall 
consist of the officers of the Society, the Librarian and the 
chairman of each of the Standing Committees. It shall meet 
once a month. This Committee between regular meetings 
of the Society shall control the activities of the several com- 
mittees and of the officers, except in matters relating to the dis- 
bursement of the permanent funds, the transfer of real estate 
and the construction or demolition of the buildings of the 
Society. It shall appropriate from the income of the Society 
the amounts to be expended by each of the Standing Com- 
mittees and no liabilities in excess of such appropriation shall 



10 Rhode Island Historical Society 

be incurred by such committees without the authorization of 
the Executive Committee. Five members of the Executive 
Committee shall constitute a quorum. 

The Standing Committees. 

17. The Standing Committees of the Society shall be : 

A Membership Committee. 

A Library Committee. 

A Lecture Committee. 

A Publication Committee. 

A Committee on Grounds and Buildings. 

A Committee on Necrology. 

A Finance Committee. 

An Audit Committee. 

18. Each of these Committees shall consist of three mem- 
bers chosen at the annual meeting of the Society in each year 
to serve until the next annual meeting and until others are 
chosen in their places. Vacancies on any of the Standing 
Committees may be filled by the Executive Committee or at a 
regular meeting of the Society. 

19. The Membership Committee shall examine all applica- 
tions and proposals for membership and also take such action 
thereon as is provided in the by-laws. 

20. The Library Committee shall have charge of the books, 
manuscripts and other collections of the Society within the 
Cabinet or building and shall make needful rules and regu- 
lations for the use and protection of the same. They shall 
have authority to employ assistants to the Librarian and fix 
their compensation, subject to the confirmation of the Ex- 
ecutive Committee. They shall expend all moneys received 
from the State of Rhode Island, in accordance with the act 
of the General Assembly applicable thereto. 

21. The Lecture Committee shall arrange for the presenta- 
tion of lectures and papers upon appropriate subjects. 

22. The Publication Committee shall have charge of the 
preparation, printing and distribution of all the publications 



Constitution and By-Laws II 

of the Society and shall from time to time recommend such 
publications as they deem appropriate and of importance. 

23. The Committee on Grounds and Buildings shall have 
charge of the grounds and buildings and see that they are 
kept in proper condition and repair. 

24. The Committee on Necrology shall cause to be pre- 
pared annually for publication in the proceedings of the 
Society a biographical notice of each of the members who 
shall have died during the year. 

25. The Finance Committee shall have the oversight of 
the financial affairs of the Society and shall advise and direct 
the Treasurer, who shall not be a member of this Committee, 
regarding the investment and custody of the funds. 

26. The Audit Committee shall, before the annual meeting 
each year, audit the Treasurer's accounts, examine the 
Society's securities and make a written report of their 
examination. 

27. There shall also be a Nominating Committee of five 
members, no one of whom shall be a member of the Executive 
Committee, who shall be named at the regular meeting of the 
Society in October of each year, which Committee shall 
report to the Secretary in writing two weeks before the 
date of the ensuing annual meeting a list of nominations for 
officers and for members of the Standing Committees ; and 
the Secretary shall within four days after receiving the list 
mail copies thereof to all active and life members. 

Meetings. 

28. There shall be three regular meetings for the tran.sac- 
tion of business in each year ; the annual meeting on the sec- 
ond Tuesday in January, and meetings on the second Tuesdays 
in April and October. 

29. A special meeting of the Society shall be called by the 
Secretary on the written request of the President or of any 
five active or life members. The call for a special meeting 
shall specify the purpose for which the meeting is called and 
no other business shall be acted upon at that meeting. 



12 



Rhode Island Historical Society 



30. Written or printed notice of each meeting of the So- 
ciety shall be mailed to each active or life member at least 
forty-eight hours before the time set for the meeting. 

31. Eleven active or life members shall constitute a quorum 
for the transaction of business at a meeting of the Society. 

32. The order of business at the annual meeting shall be : 

1. The reading of the minutes of the last regular 

and any intervening meetings. 

2. The reports of the Secretary,Treasurer, Librarian 

and Cabinet - Keeper, Executive Committee, 
Standing Committees in the order of their elec- 
tion, and Special Committees. 

3. The President's annual address. 

4. The election of new members. 
Unfinished business. 
Report of the Nominating Committee. 
Election of officers. 
New business. 

regular meetings the order of business shall be : 

The reading of the minutes. 

The Librarian's report. 

The report of the Executive Committee. 

The report of the Membership Committee. 

Reports from any of the Standing Committees 
having a communication to make to the So- 
ciety or of Special Committees. 

6. Communications received by the Secretary. 

7. Election of new members. 

8. Unfinished business. 

9. New business. 



At other 
I 

2 
3 
4 

5 



Permanent Endowment Fund. 
33. All moneys received by the Society by gift or bequest, 
not otherwise designated by the giver, and such other sums 
as the Society may direct, shall constitute the Permanent En- 
dowment Fund. The Fund shall be kept invested by the 
Finance Committee and no part of it except the income shall 



Constitution and By-Lazvs 13 

be expended for any purpose except investment or reinvest- 
ment without a vote of two -thirds of the members present at 
a meeting, the call for which shall have contained the motion 
upon which action is taken. 

General Rules. 

34. Members of the Society shall have the right to read, 
consult or examine the books, manuscripts, or other objects 
belonging to the Society, under such regulations as the Li- 
brary Committee shall approve as necessary for their preser- 
vation and safe keeping. Members may take from the building 
such books as are not specifically reserved, under such rules and 
restrictions as may be prescribed by the Library Committee. 

35. The use of the Society's collections may be extended 
to persons not members of the Society, under such regulations 
as the Executive Committee shall determine. 

36. Any person taking a book or other property of the So- 
ciety from the building shall sign a receipt therefor in such 
form as the Library Committee shall prescribe. 

37. No manuscript or reserved book of the Society shall 
be taken from the building without the written permission of 
the Library Committee. 

38. These By-Laws may be amended by vote of two-thirds 
of the members present at any regular meeting of the Society, 
provided that notice of such proposed amendment shall have 
been presented in writing at the last previous regular meeting 
and included in the call for the meeting at which action is 
taken. 

At an adjourned quarterly meeting of the Rhode Island 
Historical Society held April 14, 1914, it was 

Voted, That the preceding be adopted as the Constitution 
and By-Laws of the Rhode Island Historical Society and shall 
go into effect immediately, and that all constitutions, by-laws, 
votes and resolutions inconsistent with the preceding be and 
they are hereby repealed. 

Howard W. Preston, 

Secretary. 



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